What is the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program like at CCRI?

Prerequisite courses for the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program can be taken on
any CCRI campus. The OTA program courses are offered in an evening/weekend format
on the Newport County Campus. Fieldwork experiences are scheduled during the day and
typically run from Monday – Friday.

The program integrates classroom preparation and clinical practice. General education
courses such as English Composition, Oral Communication, Anatomy, Physiology, Introduction
to College Math, General Psychology, and Developmental Psychology enhance the Occupational
Therapy Assistant program core courses. Courses include laboratory sessions to learn
and practice hands on skills required to be an Occupational Therapy Assistant. Under
the supervision of an Occupational Therapist or certified Occupational Therapy Assistant,
students participate in fieldwork experiences in a variety of occupational therapy
settings where skills learned in the classroom are practiced.

As you consider choosing a program to prepare you for a lifelong career as an Occupational
Therapy Assistant, consider how CCRI can provide you with a superior educational experience.

The CCRI Occupational Therapist Assistant Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation
Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE).

As a state school, CCRI provides you with an affordable, high quality education for
under $13,000, thousands of dollars less than other private schools.

The CCRI Occupational Therapy Assistant program is proud of its 100% pass rate for
first time testers on the NBCOT national examination since 2000.

The CCRI OTA faculty hold degrees in the field of Occupational Therapy as well as
years of clinical practice in neurological and orthopedic rehabilitation, hand therapy,
pediatrics, burns, trauma, psychiatry, developmental delays, early intervention, and
work hardening.

OTA Program faculty are dedicated to student success, and committed to excellence
in preparing students for careers as Occupational Therapist Assistants.

The CCRI OTA Program offers a well established and refined curriculum which facilitates
the development of hands-on and clinical reasoning skills required for successful
practice in a variety of Occupational Therapy settings.

CCRI provides a strong network of student support services such as supplemental classroom
instruction and peer tutoring through the Student Success Center.

How can I prepare myself for the Occupational Therapist Assistant Program?

Interested students should enroll in a math and science curriculum, including math
and biology. Students should consider completing the online RHAB 1100: Foundational
Kinesiology, and RHAB 1010: Medical Terminology courses at CCRI in preparation for
success in the OTA curriculum. High school students can take these online courses
during their senior year. All students will need good reading and communication skills
to prepare them to take English Composition I at the college level.

What is the process for application to the program?

All students wishing to apply to the OTA program must complete all prerequisite courses
with a “C” or better except they must have a "B-" or better in BIOL 1010 Human Anatomy,
OCTA 1000 Introduction to the Occupational Therapy Assistant, and RHAB 1010 Medical
Terminology for Rehab Health Practitioners. They also must have a GPA of at least
2.7. Refer to the OTA Program Admission Guidelines document for further information. Performance Based Applications are accepted in February following completion of the preadmission requirements.